Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss says 'the suffering is strong' after Europa League loss

Last updated on 3 May 2018.From the section European Football283

Arsene Wenger said Arsenal's "suffering is strong" after their hopes of reaching the Europa League final were dashed by a 2-1 aggregate defeat against Atletico Madrid.

Diego Costa scored the only goal of the second leg to take Atletico through to their third final in eight years.

Wenger will not lift a European trophy with Arsenal with his tenure as manager coming to an end this season.

"It can be very cruel, I am very sad tonight," said the Frenchman.

Arsenal missed a number of chances to equalise in Madrid but were denied through a combination of good defending and poor end product.

They dominated the first leg but allowed 10-man Atletico to equalise with eight minutes to spare, handing the Spaniards an away goal advantage.

The Gunners will now miss out on Champions League football next season.

"We didn't manage the important moments of either game well," said Wenger.

"We were 1-0 up with 10 minutes to go at home, and then we conceded a stupid goal. Tonight we looked OK and then conceded on the counter attack.

"Atletico played with fear in the first half that if we score they could be out, but once they scored they played with a cushion."

Wenger also said the tie "should be over" after the first leg and that his side "missed something in the final third".

"When you go out of a competition and you have the performances we have had over 180 minutes it is hard to take.

"There are some good ingredients in our team. They will bounce back."

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin said the result was "hard to take" because they "played with our heart".

"It was not meant to be," said the Spaniard. "We wanted to do it for the boss and to try for him to finish on the top. That adds more disappointment."

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was one of several players who came close to equalising in the second half but were left crestfallen at full-time

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Comment posted by infl3xian, at 06:56 4 May 2018
I'm sure this has already been mentioned on other threads but Arsenal don't deserve to go through - as much as I'd like to see two British teams in their respective finals in Europe.

To have the advantage of an extra man for around 80 minutes of the first leg at home is nigh-on unforgivable and, consequently, there cannot be any realistic complaints from any Arsenal fans.

Shame though...
Comment posted by NewburyTangerine, at 08:18 4 May 2018
You have to feel for Arsenal fans, I mean consistently finishing in the top 6, collecting the odd domestic cup along the way & competing with the best in Europe. Oh wait a minute, I don't feel for their fans, get a sense of perspective, try supporting the likes of Chesterfield, Blackpool or Sunderland or is football only about winning? If so, why not switch to City and pipe down with the whining.
Comment posted by atom1979, at 06:42 4 May 2018
Compare Wenger's time at Arsenal to the entire history of most clubs.

Compare the trophy haul. His time alone will eclipse most other clubs'.

It's all relative, of course, and if we get used to success we expect more.

There were two teams playing last night; it wasn't all about Arsenal.

I'm a Man Utd fan, and it turns out Sevilla played much better than us too.

It happens
Comment posted by imran, at 06:45 4 May 2018
As a lfc fan gotta day...Wenger is a legend, great man, he did awesomely back in the days when recognising young talent and making them world class but nowadays with so many prima donas talent has to be bought and paid well for, it always felt like Wenger splashed out coz he was forced, gunners fans will agree some players are just not good enough, good luck to new manager
Comment posted by User0224551107, at 06:28 4 May 2018
Sad that the players in whom Arsene put so much trust (and spent so much money) didn't have the courtesy to make a matching effort on the pitch.
Not just tonight but all season.

But that's football nowadays, winning players are heroes by themselves alone, but if players lose it's the managers fault.
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 06:58 4 May 2018
Jack Wlshere demonstrated why he should not be in the England team and why Arsenal should have sold him years ago. Inconsistent, irritating, lazy and anonymous when it counted.

Verdict; Arsenal bottled it in the first leg against ten men. Second leg one shot on target and gave Atletico a goal on the stroke of half time.
Defensively flawed and nervous. Too many passengers and no leaders.
Comment posted by JONNY, at 06:55 4 May 2018
A great manager and a great man very very intelligent , I really wanted The Arsenal to win the Europa League , fitting tribute to the Manager for all that he has done , I think any true football fan would want that , I wish Mr Wenger the very best and many thanks for the Fab football a few years ago what a team in the 2000s ( early ) and I am a passionate Liverpool Fan .
Comment posted by Upthedeise, at 06:25 4 May 2018
Fluffed ur lines last week against 10. Atletico knew they had it won with that away goal as their defense is stella. That team needs a big ol clean out.
Comment posted by Markyp1965, at 07:54 4 May 2018
#44 1882 Loyal Spurs

Won plenty over the years? Give over!!
The Sours second and most recent top flight league title was 57 years ago, you’ve not won a major cup competition for 27 years (FA Cup) and the last of your three European trophies was 34 years ago.

Specialists in failure? Currently residing in N17.
Comment posted by Ook the Librarian, at 06:25 4 May 2018
Keown was know as a strong but fair no nonsense defender

Glad to see he has carried this on into his media work

Ozil is the new Adebayor ... Only play us when there is something of value on offer to him personally on offer
Comment posted by atom1979, at 06:51 4 May 2018
How many people were certain Arsenal were going to get a battering over the two legs?

After all, Atletico have been in two UCL finals and won La Liga in the past few years...

They lost by ONE goal
Comment posted by D1679304119067, at 07:05 4 May 2018
Ozil is a real mystery to me. He signed a new contract, you would think there must be at least some aspect of dedication and passion for Arsenal. It can't just be about money, surely? They're playing in a European semi final and he looks disinterested. Floating on the fringes of the game, playing half-hearted, wafted little passes. I can't work that guy out.
Comment posted by dinos, at 06:35 4 May 2018
It's not just AW's fault. The vast majority of his players are simply not good enough.
Comment posted by Display name, at 07:55 4 May 2018
Arsene.

You sold Giroud.

Giroud would’ve been a focal point for you last night, would’ve made Godin work a lot harder and left some bruises on him.

Your fault entirely for being so ridiculous.
Comment posted by Bacaruda, at 07:02 4 May 2018
These are crocodile tears, based on wishfulness rather than reality.

The reality is that Atletico played badly by their standards, with 10 men over 40% of the contest, and still won. Arsenal are where they are because of what they are. A club loaded with history, but which has failed to plan for the future. If the owners cannot provide the management and resource to grow, they should sell.
Comment posted by boyracerfred, at 09:18 4 May 2018
almost inevitable result. A Wenger squad to the last, full of nearly men, a rest home for overpaid drama-queens. Closing down squad sale needed by new manager - who wants the job - except £25m per year jokers. Coasting thru the season with no repurcussions is routine at Emirates.
Comment posted by Werdna, at 08:30 4 May 2018
Ozil is probably the laziest player I have ever seen in The Premiership...Lacazette is not far behind. Neither deserve to wear the proud Arsenal shirt . Liverpool fan who was rooting for Arsenal last night
Comment posted by KGR0467, at 06:47 4 May 2018
He should have left after his last FA Cup win, stayed long far too long!!!
Comment posted by GunnerBear, at 12:22 4 May 2018
Sorry Mr. Wenger but last night encapsulates the decline that you have precipitated at the club in the second half of your tenure. You should have left after the Hull cup final but no, your ego and your arrogance have been your downfall. The next man, with a few changes, will get far more out of these players than you are capable of.

Thank you for the first ten years. Bye.
Comment posted by timbo, at 12:19 4 May 2018
Same stale old tactics, trying to pass our way through a brick wall. 1 shot on target in a game where we needed a goal? Athletico were organised, Arsenal were clueless how to make anything happen. Countless times where a cross could have been put into the box, we went sideways or backwards instead until the move broke down and no chance made. Thankfully something different next season.